Riverhounds sign goalkeeper Keasel Broome

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have made their first offseason signing. The team added goalkeeper Keasel Broome, signing him to a one-year contract.

The Riverhounds made goalkeeper their top priority this offseason after losing Hunter Gilstrap to retirement, Zack Steffen to the Columbus Crew SC and Mauricio Vargas to his home in Costa Rica. The only goalkeeper the Riverhounds could potentially re-sign on their current roster is Brenden Alfery, who began his professional career with the Riverhounds last season.

Broome started his career with Reading United in 2012 where he made three appearances. He went to the Ocean City Nor’easters in 2013, making two appearances. In 2014, he made his way to the Real Boston Rams, where he made only four appearances.

While playing three seasons of club soccer, he also played collegiate soccer for Providence College in Rhode Island. With the Providence Friars, Broome started all 45 matches in his final two seasons. He still holds the school’s record for the most minute played in a single season (2,131), which he achieved in his senior season. At Providence, he recorded 14 shutouts in 59 starts, with a record of 31-18-8.

Broome was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. After the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, Broome made his way to the New York Cosmos. His season was short, only lasting a year, and he didn’t appear in a single match. And then Broome made his way to the Islanders for the 2016 season.

With the Islanders — who the Riverhounds faced three times last season — he made 13 appearances, totaling two starts against Pittsburgh. (Broome was the man in goal when the Islanders won the Keystone Derby Cup in August.)

Riverhounds head coach Dave Brandt said he was excited about bringing Broome to the western side of Pennsylvania.

“Having to play against Keasel and have him deny us our scoring opportunities home and away that were really good, especially away in Harrisburg, I got to know him better as a player,” Brandt said. “I really like him as a goalkeeper. He’s athletic, a very good shot-stopper and just a great kid. I’m really pleased we’re bringing him in.”

The Riverhounds currently only have three players under contract for the 2017 season: Broome, Kevin Kerr and Chevaughn Walsh. The team has plenty of time in the offseason to keep signing new players — or to give last season’s players contract extensions.